Patent GB-808651-A (GB)
Title: Accounting or similar calculating machines
Filed: 1957-01-15
Abstract: 808,651. Calculating-apparatus. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER CO. Jan. 15, 1957 [Feb. 23, 1956 (2)], No. 1465/57. Class 106 (1). An accounting machine has a set of differential actuators, elements operatively connected to the actuators, switches electrically controlling the setting up of data in a device for recording such data on tape, and intermediate devices settable under the control of the elements after the latter have been set by the actuators and adapted to actuate the switches in accordance with the data set up on the actuators. The invention is applied to a machine similar to that disclosed in Specification 772,170 and having a full keyboard, independently-operated calculating mechanism, a typewriting mechanism and a travelling paper carriage. In the present machine, data set up on the actuators may be temporarily stored in coded form in electric switches which control the operation of a punching mechanism, Fig. 24, arranged to punch the digits seriatim on a tape. The operation of the accounting machine is controlled, in part, by control plates mounted on the paper carriage in selected columnar positions and the operation of the punching mechanism is controlled by further control plates on the paper carriage and by plugged connections in a removable " form board " 610. The programming sequence set up on the paper carriage and on the form board is repeated for each line of printing on the accounting form, called a " frame " of data. Each frame is composed of several " segments " of data, corresponding to the columns of the form and to individual accounting machine cycles. A solenoid, Fig. 7 (not shown), is energized during a punching operation to block the normal release mechanism for the accounting machine. The sequence of punching operations throughout the entry of a frame of data is controlled by a stepping switch which advances one step for each digit punched. Setting data-switches in accounting machine.- Each differential actuator 197, Figs. 14 and 18, meshes with a gear 215 fast with eight control discs. Alternate discs of each denominational set have control projections positioned so as to be sensed by corresponding feelers 229 with right-hand sensing fingers whilst the other discs have projections positioned so as to be sensed by corresponding feelers 231 having left-hand fingers. The feelers 229, 231 are guided by rods 233, 234 carried by plates 235 themselves guided for sliding movement in grooves in rods 221, 222. The feelers are urged downwardly by springs and have projections for co-operation with detents 241. A rod 244 passes through the plates 235 and is engaged by arms 245 on a shaft 246 rockable, to effect a sensing movement of the plates 235, by cams on a shaft 261, Fig. 8, which is rotated, as described below, through one revolution when punching is to be effected. During a sensing movement, if a feeler engages a projection, it is moved upwardly relative to the plates 235 and latched by its detent. Then, on the return of the plates 235, an insulating block, e.g. 312, carried thereby closes a corresponding contact pair, e.g. 314, 316. The operated feelers remain in set position until different feelers in the same order are shifted when the detent releases the ones previously set. The code is such that two feelers are always set in each order. To ensure that data is transmitted only during the correct part of the cycle, a mainswitch for the transmission circuits is normally open and is closed for the appropriate period by a cam on the sensing control shaft 261. Control of punching by paper carriage and Void key.-The punching device is operative only if a T-length control plate is in effective position on the front bar of the carriage. In that case, when the known sensing mechanism operates early in the cycle, a finger 285 remains in the position shown in Fig. 8. Then, when a cam-controlled arm 301 is lowered, a lever 280 is able to follow and to move a slide 281 sensing the finger 286 to the position shown. At the same time, a slide 277 moves rightward and a stud 274 is raised to permit the engagement of a one-revolution clutch 265, 269 driving the sensing control shaft 261. Contacts closed by a cam on this shaft 261 cause an " operate " relay to be energized to condition the punching mechanism for operation. If a shorter projection is in effective position on the carriage, the finger 285 is raised and the slide 281 blocked. The point in the cycle at which the clutch can engage is chosen to enable the necessary preliminary sensing movements to occur beforehand. When a Void key is depressed, it moves a stud into the path of the slide 277 and so prevents engagement of the clutch 265, 269. The punching device is also controlled by two sets of eight switches, one of which is closed in each columnar position under the control of studs 323, Fig. 17, inserted in selected positions in plates 321 adjustably secured in columnar positions to a bar 319 mounted on the rear of the paper carriage. The switches are similar to those shown in Fig. 14 for transmitting data to the punching device, and are operated by a similar sensing mechanism to that described above except that the detents for the sensing feelers are, in this case, rocked to free the set feeler by a special mechanism, Fig. 21 (not shown), as the frame moves to sensing position. Punching device.-The eight data punches 625, Fig. 30, are controlled by selecting levers 634 in turn controlled by electromagnets, e.g. PS8. When a magnet is energized, its armature 638 releases a corresponding one of the levers 634 so that it engages over the left end of an associated actuating lever 626. The right ends of the actuating levers 626 engage respective punches 625 and the levers are pivoted on a rod 627 in a frame 628 which is rocked by cams on a shaft 633 to raise the rod 627 so that those levers 626 held at their left ends will be forced, against the action of springs 630, to raise their punches 625 to effect punching. During punching, the selecting levers 634 are latched by a bail 641 and, afterwards, they are restored by a bail 644. One of the levers 634 rocks a bail 647 which ensures that the armatures 638 re-latch the levers 634. A feed-hole punch is effective in each operation. The cam shaft 633 is driven through a one-revolution clutch tripped by an electromagnet energized over switch contacts SC7a1 closed by an arm 657 of a bail 655 rocked when any selecting lever 634 is released. A tape-feeding pin-wheel is fast on a shaft 658 advanced by a pawl and ratchet mechanism actuated from the cam-shaft 633. The tape passes from a frictionally-loaded supply roll, round a fixed guide roll, over a roll 672 carried by a lever 673, below a pressure plate 675, and round a further fixed guide roll to a take-up spool, yieldingly driven from the cam-shaft 633. If a feeler 674 does not engage the tape, or if the pressure plate 675 is withdrawn, an arm 1676 is rocked, and, through a link 678, rocks a lever 679 to open contacts SC5b1 in the circuit of the clutch-release magnet for the cam-shaft 633. If the tension of the tape becomes excessive, the roll 672 is moved rightwardly and its lever 673 rocks the lever 679 to open the contacts. At the beginning of a series of operations, a button 608, Fig. 24, is pressed to cause an " End of frame " symbol to be punched followed by " Leader advance" " symbols, the punching device continuing to cycle until the button is released. Programme control arrangements.-The more permanent of the adjustable connections are set up by plugged connections on a plug-board 617, Figs. 24 and 25. This has a main section 727 have eight rows of connected terminals, connected respectively to the eight punch-selecting magnets, to which terminals in various other sections may be plugged to determine which punches shall operate to represent given symbols. Thus, e.g., the circuit energized when an " end of frame " symbol is to be punched is connected to a section 730 having two terminals which are plugged to rows " 7 " and " 8 " of the section 727 so that punches " 7 " and " 8 " will operate to punch the " end of frame " symbol. The eight data switches of each denomination are connected with the corresponding switches of other denominations in predetermined combinations to five terminals in a section 736, the eight switches actually being arranged to set up each digit in a two out of five code, and the terminals of the section 736 are plugged to a selected five of the eight rows in the section 727 to determine which five punches shall be used to punch numerical data. Another section 734 enables the ten digits to be set up independently by plugging to the rows of the section 727. The terminals of the section 734 are connected to those of a section 735 of a terminal board, Fig. 33, so that selected digits may be punched at chosen points in a programme. The terminal board, Fig. 33, co-operates with a removable form board 610, see also Fig. 24, on which plugged connections may be made in accordance with a particular accounting programme and form. The main section 725 of the terminal board has one hundred and two pairs of contacts connected to the contacts of the stepping switch. These contacts are connected by means of the form board to contacts in the other sections to determine the operation at each step of the stepping switch. A section 753 connected to the carriage-controlled switches determines the step at which the punching of each segment of information shall commence and a section 754 determines where it shall end. A section 748 has two rows of connected contacts for each denomination of data switches -one row for each group of four switches) and determines at which points in the programme the digits registered in the different denominations shall be punched. Other sections enable various symbols to be punched at chosen points, including positive and negative signs (represented by the digits " 0 " and